By Priam Nepomuceno/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — The remaining four amphibious assault vehicles (AAVs), out of the eight ordered from South Korean defense manufacturer Hanwha Techwin, will be delivered in August.
This was confirmed by Philippine Navy (PN) spokesperson Captain Jonathan Zata when sought for an update on the project’s status Tuesday.
“The expected arrival of the four remaining AAVs is expected this August,” he said in a message to the Philippine News Agency.
The AAVs, along with four vehicles that arrived last May, will be used by the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) and will be based in two strategic sealift vessels, the BRP Tarlac (LD-601) and BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602), boosting the ships’ “limited sea basing capabilities”.
Zata said the AAVs will be commissioned by the PMC once it has successfully completed its Technical Inspection and Acceptance Committee evaluations shortly after its August arrival.
The AAV contract is worth PHP2.42 billion.
The first batch of four amphibious assault vehicles will be commissioned this June 17, also the 121st PN founding anniversary, during ceremonies at Naval Base Heracleo Alano, Sangley Point, in Cavite.
These vehicles are armed with .50 caliber machineguns, 40-mm grenade launchers and smoke launchers.
“The PMC (Philippine Marine Corps) is essentially an amphibious ready force and part of our doctrine is that they can be embarked in our landing docks. Part of the doctrine is the so-called ‘limited sea basing’, which means that a battalion of Marines is always on board, at any one time, ready for any possible exigencies,” Zata earlier said.
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